Q & Daou - "This May, the Dance Program at Mercer County Community College will collaborate with the Mercer Dance Ensemble to present the world-premier of Joe Sent M.D.E., a program of original dances set to music from the new album by acclaimed singer-songwriter Vanessa Daou.

To help promote the event and show her support, Daou will be appearing at Mercer County Community College on Friday, March 27 at 12:30pm for a Q&A with Theatre Program instructor and Elixir Productions co-founder Alex DeFazio. What follows are Vanessa's e-mailed responses to drafts of Alex's questions for the Q&A as well as two additional questions and answers - exclusive to Elixir - where Vanessa shares her thoughts about gender and sexuality and how they inform her music.

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Alex: Many of our students at Mercer County Community College aspire to professional careers in the arts - as musicians, actors, visual artists, graphic designers, dancers. You were a student at Vassar and then Barnard College and Columbia University, and it was around this time that you began reading your poems at coffee houses and experimenting with singing and songwriting. How did you make the transition from student to major- label artist? Was it a transition that "found" you, or one that you consciously worked for, and what were some major stepping stones in your path?

Vanessa: It was a transition that definitely found me. I came from an art, poetry, and performance background, so the concept of being a "major label artist" was very unfamiliar to me. In the early 90s I was friends with a group of experimental underground electronic DJs and musicians, and I was in the studio one day at NuGroove Records, a seminal and groundbreaking label, when a DJ producer asked if I could write a song to one of his tracks. I came from a musical background so it wasn't that much of a stretch for me..." Elixir Productions Blog

SRO @ MCCC! [ Link to original blog post ]

From start to finish, it was a perfect day at Mercer County Community College!

Academic Theatre Program Instructor Alex DeFazio & I began the day with a great interview by Rachel Katz who hosts the dynamic 'Views & Voices at WWFM, a classical music public radio station that operates out of Mercer County Community College.

Streaming audio of interview with Rachel Katz here.

Afterward, we had an at length & many faceted conversation with Mercer Communications professor Alvyn Haywood for WWFM's Jazz On 2 89.1 FM, Trenton's Jazz Station. We touched on topics ranging from the importance of Jazz in the context of contemporary culture, specific inspiration for me during the writing of JOE SENT ME, the background of my connection and collaboration with Alex DeFazio which led to JOE SENT MDE, future plans, and more.

Professor Haywood & those at WWFM are shaping an immensely innovative and important program, one that reaches out to Trenton & beyond in a broad-minded and all-inclusive way, a model for radio stations everwhere that seek to educate, influence & inspire their audience as well as entertain. Read more about Jazz on 2 here

Streaming audio interview with Alvyn Haywood here.

"Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, WWFM, The Classical Network of MCCC, has embarked on a new venture - the launch of a jazz station called "Jazz On 2." The station airs on 89.1 HD2, which is one of 89.1's new digital channels. Programming is locally produced in part, as well as in collaboration with WDUQ in Pittsburgh, made possible by the college's recently added membership affiliation with National Public Radio." read more

The students who attended the Q&A were some of the most interesting, inquisitive & insightful that I've come across anywhere. Questions ran the gamut, from the technical, relating to the signing recording contracts, to the personal, concerns about the future possibility of facing the 'casting couch', something every female artist will most likely have to face at one time or another. We discussed the importance of smartly navigating the sometimes treacherous music business waters, the current state of flux & chaos in the industry, the various ways of keeping one's inspiration alive & vital, and the importance of discipline as an artist.

It was a packed room and an amazing conversation! Thanks to all the MCCC students & faculty members who made their presence felt by attending & participating in what was an experience for all to remember!

Clockwise works by: Ryan Lawyer, Jarrett Courtney, Eva Surany

Amongst the many incredibly talented students at Mercer, here are a few works that exemplify the immensely accomplished and visionary students.

Ryan Lawyer (top) has so beautifully captured the essence of my images, employing a nuanced and tactile approach to digital images. Conveying and embodying the message of 'Joe Sent Me' through line, contour and shadow, that absense is as powerful as substance, and that whispers which are barely heard are often the sounds that echo and reverberate in our minds.